Mac newbie - best (non full version of Photoshop) graphics editor?

[revdarth]

I am a recent convert to Mac and am loving my new iMac. I am in the process of starting to look at what software I need to convert fully over to mac and to not have to jump into fusion to run some of my programs (besides games of course) in XP.

On XP, I used Picasa to organize my digital photos and Corel Paint Shop pro to do real edits on those pics and also to do other graphics work. Obviously, iPhoto is not up to snuff for doing serious editing.

I am looking at what to get for Mac that would accomplish something similar to PSP (which is not available for Mac). I have downloaded the trial version of Aperture and its clearly focused on serious editing of digital photography. Nice program, but not exactly what I am looking for. Lightroom seems like something similar to Aperture in terms of its editing tools and seems to be more focused on editing digital pics instead of graphics editing per se.

I am in the process of downloading the trial of Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac and will try that out.

Any other suggestions of programs that are not the Photoshop level (specifically in cost) that would accomplish something similar to PSP? Is Elements probably the best route to go or are there other suggestions?

Thanks for helping the newbie.

 

[angelneo]

You can try out Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/) it has both windows and mac version.

 

[covisio]

Graphics Editor

Never used it (only ever full Photoshop) but from what I understand Elements has most things the non-print user could want (by non-print I mean you don't get involved in CMYK work and professional reprographics). Also price is reasonable (for the features/power) though still quite expensive.
Neither have I used GIMP but again people rave about it and it's free.
For organising digital photos I have found iPhoto more than adequate. You plug the camera in, you download the photos, it automatically organises them by date or film roll or you can create new albums to organise them to you personal taste. Also it stores the images in a meaningful directory structure so you can easily use the finder to go in and root through the files and folders.
For editing, simply set Elements as your external editor within iPhoto, then when you double-click on a photo in iPhoto it will launch that photo into Elements - easy.
Another plus with Elements is that if you are ever required to start working with the full Photoshop, it would be an easy transition.

 

[MacDawg]

You can also try Seashore and Skitch
Both are free I believe

I've heard good things about Seashore

Woof, Woof – Dawg

 

[design-is]

Hows about PhotoShop Express - I haven't used it, but I hear it's coming along nicely! Can't beat it for a free alternative to PhotoShop surely...

 

[revdarth]

Thanks for your comments. I am playing around with the PE6 trial right now and will play around with GIMP as well.

Thanks again.

 

[mkrishnan]

Thanks for your comments. I am playing around with the PE6 trial right now and will play around with GIMP as well.

Good luck! I echo thinking PSE is the best option available -- it's a very good balance of functionality (excellent, up to the needs of probably 95-99% of amateur photographers) and price (really not very expensive at all).

 

[Queso]

I like Pixelmator myself.

 

[msw123307]

don't mean to get off topic - but let's say i want to tag my pictures? what is the best program for me to just add my screen name to each picture? let's say i have 50 photos - will any of these programs do a batch tag for me? thanks for the help.

 

[revdarth]

You can do that in iPhoto...Just use keywords (their term for tags)

Window-> Show Keywords or command-K

 

[krye]

Pixelmator is great Photoshop alternative at 10th the price.

 

[one3]

I like Pixelmator myself.

I agree - very slick program and it's relatively new so it will only improve with time.

 

[msw123307]

You can do that in iPhoto...Just use keywords (their term for tags)

Window-> Show Keywords or command-K

Ok - I tried doing this, and it just puts the keyword over my picture and then it disappears. How can I edit the font and make it stay on the picture? I got the toolbar to pop up but the keywords just disappear. Sorry, I'm not very familiar with iPhoto.

 

[revdarth]

I don't think you can do what you are asking about in iPhoto. Are you looking to tag like you can in flickr or on facebook?

 

[msw123307]

I want it to have my screen name visible in the picture. Not when you scan over it like on Facebook. This way I don't have to take pictures with my ebay name on a piece of paper.

 

[one3]

If I'm right you are looking for image watermarking software such as:

http://www.scriptsoftware.com/iwatermark/

it's used to copyright protect photos but you can add contact info etc to the watermark.

 

[msw123307]

Yes that's basically what I'm trying to do. Hoping to find something free...

 

[kablammy]

Graphicconverter?

http://www.lemkesoft.com/

 

[msw123307]

I don't think I can do batch conversions with that unless I pay for the full version..

 

[ezekielrage_99]

Pixelmator or GIMP would be your best option. IMHO if you're using it for updating photos Pixelmator would be the better option.

 

[Markleshark]

I like Pixelmator myself.

Yup, Pixelmator is where it's at.

 

[fleshman03]

One more vote for the Gimp.

It's be best non-photoshop photoshop.

 

[emorydunn]

I like Pixelmator myself.

+1, very good program. It doesn't have quite as many filters and effects as PS built in but you can get extensions. Plus the added bonus that it can use quartz filters so if you know how to use Quartz Composer you can make your own filters!